GENEKATIVE SYSTEM OF THE FEMALE 



183 



a cavernous tissue with a large network (Fig. 67). The vaginal 

 mucosa has a thickness of 1 to l - 5 mm., is normally of a reddish- 

 grey colour, which becomes bright red during menstruation and 

 the excitement of coitus, violet-red during pregnancy, pale in 

 advanced age. It has an acid reaction, whilst the uterine mucosa 

 has, as we have seen, an alkaline reaction. It is soft, very dis- 

 tensible and elastic. It consists of a pavement epithelium of many 

 strata, which reminds one of the epidermis, and of a tunica 

 propria from which rise 

 numerous vascular conical 

 papillae ; these are long 

 but they do not project 

 on the free surface, for the 

 epithelium which is inter- 

 posed fills and levels the 

 inequalities. The tunica 

 propria consists of dense 

 connective tissue very rich 

 in elastic fibres. It con- 

 tains little lymphatic no- 

 dules, is richly furnished 

 with small veins, and is 

 devoid of glands. It adheres 

 closely without the inter- 

 position of a sub-mucosa, 

 to the external muscular 

 tunic. This is somewhat 

 less thick than the tunica 

 mucosa ; it consists of 

 bundles of smooth muscu- 

 lar fibres, disposed in two 

 layers, the internal circular, 

 the external longitudinal. 

 The muscular bundles are 

 interposed with connective 

 tissue very rich in elastic fibres, and supplied with many veins. 

 During pregnancy the muscular and elastic elements become 

 hypertrophied in a distinct manner; after parturition they be- 

 come reduced ; after the menopause they atrophy. The vulva or 

 pudenda comprise the external genital organs (Fig. 68). 



These are represented by the labia majora which are two 

 large projecting cutaneous folds, which with the thighs brought 

 together are in contact, and cover a median fissure which is the 

 rima pudendi. Above the anterior commissure of the labia 

 majora is a cutaneous eminence which is called the mons veneris ; 

 under the posterior commissure is the anal aperture. Opening 

 between the labia majora are two other cutaneous folds called 



FIG. 67. Vagina of young woman, opened by an incision 

 along the left margin, including the pudenda: the 

 posterior wall has been detached from the cervix of 

 the uterus and reflected. (Chiarugi.) A, anterior 

 wall; B, posterior wall; C, cervix of uterus; cr, 

 anterior column ; cr 1 , posterior column of the rugae ; 

 cu, urethral projection ; cm, urethral orifice ; pi, left 

 labium minor ; cl, clitoris ; tP, triangle of Pawlik. 



